Qualification Practice Examination 2026
| 100 Questions & Answers with
Detailed Rationales | Complete Exam
Prep & Study Guide
1. A 120/240-volt single-phase service supplies a dwelling. What is the voltage
measured between the two ungrounded conductors?
A. 120 volts
B. 208 volts
C. 240 volts
D. 277 volts
Answer: 240 volts
Rationale: The two ungrounded conductors are on opposite legs of the single-
phase system, producing 240 volts between them.
2. A 20-ampere branch circuit supplies several receptacles in a dwelling. What
is the minimum copper conductor size generally permitted for the circuit?
,A. 14 AWG
B. 12 AWG
C. 10 AWG
D. 8 AWG
Answer: 12 AWG
Rationale: A 20-ampere general-purpose branch circuit normally requires 12
AWG copper conductors unless a specific NEC provision permits another
arrangement.
3. What is the primary purpose of an equipment grounding conductor?
A. Carry normal neutral current
B. Increase circuit voltage
C. Provide a low-impedance fault-current path
D. Reduce conductor resistance
Answer: Provide a low-impedance fault-current path
Rationale: The equipment grounding conductor provides a conductive path that
allows enough fault current to operate the overcurrent protective device
promptly.
4. A 15-ampere branch circuit is protected by a 15-ampere circuit breaker.
Which copper conductor is normally permitted?
A. 18 AWG
B. 16 AWG
C. 14 AWG
D. 12 AWG
Answer: 14 AWG
Rationale: 14 AWG copper is the standard minimum conductor size for a 15-
ampere branch circuit under ordinary conditions.
, 5. What is the electrical resistance of a circuit carrying 10 amperes at 120
volts?
A. 0.083 ohms
B. 12 ohms
C. 120 ohms
D. 1,200 ohms
Answer: 12 ohms
Rationale: Ohm's law gives R = E/I = 120/10 = 12 ohms.
6. A 2,400-watt resistance heater operates at 240 volts. Approximately how
much current does it draw?
A. 5 amperes
B. 10 amperes
C. 20 amperes
D. 30 amperes
Answer: 10 amperes
Rationale: Current equals power divided by voltage: 2,400 ÷ 240 = 10 amperes.
7. What is the primary function of a circuit breaker?
A. Increase available voltage
B. Protect conductors from excessive current
C. Stabilize frequency
D. Provide grounding electrode resistance
Answer: Protect conductors from excessive current
Rationale: Overcurrent protection is primarily intended to protect conductors
and equipment from damage caused by excessive current.
8. Which device is specifically designed to detect current leakage to ground
and provide personnel protection?
, A. AFCI
B. GFCI
C. Transformer
D. Disconnect switch
Answer: GFCI
Rationale: A ground-fault circuit-interrupter monitors current imbalance and
disconnects the circuit when a ground-fault condition reaches its trip threshold.
9. What is the purpose of an AFCI?
A. Protect against arc-fault hazards
B. Protect exclusively against overloads
C. Increase short-circuit current
D. Replace all grounding conductors
Answer: Protect against arc-fault hazards
Rationale: Arc-fault circuit-interrupters are intended to reduce the risk of fires
caused by hazardous arcing conditions.
10.A continuous load is calculated at 16 amperes. What is the minimum
branch-circuit rating generally required?
A. 16 amperes
B. 18 amperes
C. 20 amperes
D. 25 amperes
Answer: 20 amperes
Rationale: A continuous load is generally calculated at 125 percent. Thus, 16 ×
1.25 = 20 amperes.
11.Which conductor normally carries the return current from a 120-volt load?